Ideas for House Exterior Color Stains

Natural Wood Colors

• A log home, or a home with attractive cedar or redwood siding is typically enhanced with semi-transparent stain in a wood-toned color that showcases the natural beauty of the wood. Choosing a stain color closest to the wood's natural color protects it from the elements and maintains the new look. Without protection, wood will naturally weather, turning gray or a darker brown.

The Weathered Look

• Most types of wood will naturally turn silvery gray when exposed to a lot of sunlight. Choose a natural-looking weathered gray stain for your house, which will instantly give it a lived-in look but without the uneven or blotchy appearance that natural weathering produces. For a subtle twist, look for a pale, silvery sage green stain, or one with blue or brown undertones.

Coordinating Colors

• Consider all of the colors on your home when choosing a stain color. If the trim and doors are painted, pick a color that complements them. For instance, choose a light tan stain for a fresh look with white trim. Your home may currently have stained wood trim---choose a darker shade of the siding stain to accentuate your windows and doors. If you have a colored roof, such as green or blue, pick a color that won't clash. Choose a stain that blends naturally with your roof color---red cedar stain may clash with a green roof, but a more neutral brown or gray stain will blend well.

Solid Color Stains

• Solid color stains work well for covering up wood that is very badly weathered and discolored. It's opaque like paint, but thinner in consistency so it allows the wood grain and texture to show through. Solid color stains are available in all the same colors as exterior house paint.